Major drug makers such as Aventis Pharma, Ind-Swift, Aurobindo Pharma and Ipca Laboratories have been listed for overcharging while selling some essential medicines. The drug price regulator, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), has issued showcause notices to all these, an official told Business Standard. According to the NPPA list for the current year, reviewed by Business Standard, Aventis Pharma, the Indian arm of Sanofi-Aventis, overcharged consumers for Avil (25 mg and 50 mg) and Combiflam. While the latter is commonly used as a painkiller and to reduce fever, Avil is an antihistamine used to treat allergic conditions such as hay fever. When approached, Sanofi-Aventis said: “We do not have any comments to share.” Besides, notices have been sent to Ind-swift for overcharging for Provita, Neurovit; Aurobindo Pharma for Z Plus; and Z Clox and Ipca Labs for Normax TZ.
